There are 2 choices, 4 votes for Ievianty's debate

What is really the point of a debate?

The point of a debate is to get the other party to see and maybe even convert to your point of view right? Well, how often does that latter actually happen? From what I noticed throughout many debates, is that people usually don't change their mind on the matter. At best, they may understand the other point of view better. People usually just throw out points and go back and forth between defending them. Sooner or later, it'll just be a cycle that repeats with the same arguments and same counter-arguments. This is especially true on more controversial subjects like religion, homosexuality, politics, and abortion. On this site for example, religion and homosexuality must have been discussed more then anything else, but those that had one set of beliefs likely stayed with them the entire time.

So, from what I gathered, the point of a debate isn't to get someone on your side of the fence, but rather, challenge those who believe differently then you and defend your position.
  • Disagree
    For the most part, that's true. Little progress happens and at times it can feel like you're just trying to break down a brick wall with your forehead. But as you said, people begin to understand your side better at least. Understanding is the first step to change--and if full change doesn't happen, understanding at the very least leads to a tolerance of viewpoints and practices as well as a sense of togetherness.

    I also view debates that I'm defending as progressive to MYSELF. I believe that while not all things are black and white, and the majority of situations in the world need case by case details, there is largely only one thing: the thing that is there. The thing that is happening. Maybe there are multiple solutions, multiple possibilities to a good outcome. But this should be proved. If my viewpoints and rationale behind them are flawed, I expect them to be pointed out to me. If that flaw is pointed out and I never thought of it, I will have to examine it to see if the flaw is only an illusion or a reason to start thinking differently. Because it can only be one or the other. There can only be what is and what isn't. Finding this out for most circumstances is not easy, and for large ethical questions can take lifetimes and even centuries to answer.
    50%  Voted for by Weydon, Kazrith.
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  • I think pride plays a role in this too
    I think many people are unwilling to come to terms with the fact that they were wrong about their beliefs. They don't want to feel as if they "lost."

    Plenty of times on this site, for example, I've seen people who held outrageously ridiculous views concerning homosexuality and when presented with myriads of scientific evidence and logically sound arguments to the contrary, simply shut down and backed away from the debate, only to show up again on a new page shouting the same old nonsense as if the previous debate never even happened.

    So yeah, people are stubborn, even when it's completely obvious that they are wrong.
    50%  Voted for by cosmosis, bob2314.
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